SCARCITY OF BUTTER.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 July 1919, Page 5

SCARCITY OF BUTTER.

NEED FOR ECONOMY.

- A statement that there is a shortage of butter is, backed up by figures, says a Buuedin telegram. On June 15 there were about 62,000 boxes of butter in the cool stores of the Dominion, plus about 12,00U boxes of second grade and whey butter. The consumption of butter in the Dominion is at the rate of about 800 tons per month (40 boxes to the ton), which means that in the middle of June we had in New Zealand as nearly as possible two months' supply, and it may be estimated |that to-%y the stock amounts to six' weeks' supply. The only chance of eking it out is by consumers practising the strictest economy. Ax early spring would 'be a great blessing. Commenting on the position, Mr. H. W Dent, acting-manager of the New Zealand Dairy Association, said on Friday morning that therd was undoubtedly a shortage of first-grade butter on the Dominion market. This had been caused through the recent unfortunate tlrtught. Estimates which were made in March were thus entirely upset, and the butter made for local consumption proved to be much below the estimate. By careful calculation on the new basis the New Zealand Dairy Ajsociation hope to be able to fill the requirements of their clients reasonably, but they feared that until the new season's make was available in sufficient quantity the position ■ would be a little difficult. The present indication appeared for an early spring, and in such case it was hoped thai ths position would ease up in the near future. This factor, however, was uncertain. Replying to the statement that there was only six weeks' supply in the Dominion, Mr. Dent stated that if this referred to first-grade butter the short* age does not appear so acute as has been reported.